Toowoomba land values up 31 per cent after Valuer-General’s 2025 assessments

Toowoomba property owners should brace for higher council rates and property taxes after a major spike in the region’s land values by - on average - 31%.

The official value of land in Toowoomba has increased by a staggering 31 per cent in the past two years according to the latest Valuer-General’s report.

More than 790,000 parcels of land were assessed, in 14 local government areas as part of the biennial review.

The largest gains were in the agricultural sector, the result of back-to-back La Nina events that brought widespread rain.

Land values in the areas around Cunnamulla were up a staggering 247 per cent while Quilpie was up 236 per cent and Charleville was 238 per cent, when compared to the previous valuation in 2021.

Queensland’s Valuer-General Laura Dietrich said the increased values across the state were driven by regional migration and high levels of invesment.

“Some of the factors such as strong population growth and investor demands have contributed to an increase in the land value across the all the three revalued South East Queensland Local Government Area,” she said.

“Major infrastructure projects, such as those associated with the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and transport infrastructure, are also influencing land value in specific areas.”

While the new values are a good indicator of the price a homeowner can fetch for their property, they are also used to determine rates charged by local councils and property tax.

LG Hooker Toowoomba principal Mike Stewart said the process was needed to be overhauled to make it fairer for property owners, especially during a cost of living crisis.

LJ Hooker Toowoomba principal Mike Stewart

“This is going to be a huge slug to everyone, when they can least afford it,” he said.

“The property’s value may have gone up, but that does not mean a homeowner or the businesses has 31 per cent more income, they will just have to pay more in tax and rates.

“It can have a significant impact on business and homeowners that are already finding it difficult in the current business climate.

The blanket increase is spread across all properties, regardless of what has been built on the land.

Mr Stewart said the 31 per cent increase tracked with sale results agents have recorded over the past few years, with the city’s supply of housing and commercial property remaining tight.

“I don’t think anyone would welcome this increase with open arms because it is a theoretic value,” he said.

“It does not mean that you will sell a property for more if you take it to market.,”

The new valuation will take effect on June 30.